response

American  

[ri-spons] / rɪˈspɒns /

noun

• responses
  plural

1. an answer or reply, as in words or in some action.

   Synonyms:

   rejoinder

2. Biology. any behavior of a living organism that results from an external or internal stimulus.

3. Ecclesiastical.

   1. a verse, sentence, phrase, or word said or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant.

   2. responsory.

4. Bridge. a bid based on an evaluation of one's hand relative to the previous bid of one's partner.

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response British  

/ rɪˈspɒns /

noun

1. the act of responding; reply or reaction

2. bridge a bid replying to a partner's bid or double

3. (usually plural) Christianity a short sentence or phrase recited or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant at a church service

4. electronics the ratio of the output to the input level, at a particular frequency, of a transmission line or electrical device

5. any pattern of glandular, muscular, or electrical reactions that arises from stimulation of the nervous system

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response Scientific  

/ rĭ-spŏns′ /

1. A reaction, as that of an organism or any of its parts, to a specific stimulus.

2. See more at classical conditioning

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Synonym Usage

See answer.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterresponse
  noun
• responseless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• responses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of response

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin respōnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of respondēre “to reply, answer”; replacing Middle English respounse, from Middle French respons, from Latin, as above; see respond

Explanation

A response is a reaction to a question, experience, or some other type of stimulus. If you cry at sad movies, you're having an emotional response to the drama that's taking place on the screen. A response can come in many forms, including an answer to a question, an emotional reaction, or a reply. If a teacher asks, "Who invented the phonograph?" She hopes her students will give her the response, "Why, Thomas Edison, of course!" When a parent tells a child not to cross the street when the light is red, he hopes the response will be compliance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

response responses

In response, Raman said her committee focused on data to make sure the city’s investment in fighting homelessness is paying off.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

He added that the new tariffs are “a focused response to protect and defend our industries and allow them to compete with U.S. products in the Canadian market.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

An individual emotional response to a government policy or action isn’t an injury courts can redress.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

In response, Saar said on social media that he rejected "outright" Miliband's statement.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

“Yes, I can see well enough,” I managed in the French that still tasted new on my tongue, and then tried to figure out what else a competent, sophisticated girl might say in response.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

County and state officials are gaming out responses to immigration raids near voting centers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

At the same time, about 5% to 6% of healthy participants showed weak vaccine responses.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

Statistics Canada offered no details with its forecast for July, which was based on the responses of more than half of retailers surveyed and will be revised.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The audience, which was heavily pro-Bass, eventually started applauding more and more of Raman’s responses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Another component of the method concerns improvisation, which helps students sharpen their spontaneous reactions and physical responses to music.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• feedback
• reply
• return